Google names RIT winner of street-view trike contest

Google has announced that RIT will become the next American university to be featured in the company’s Street View Gallery. RIT’s selection resulted from an online contest in which the university received a higher number of votes than any other U.S. location participating in the contest.

Google’s Street View gives users a 360-degree street-level look at important landmarks and attractions across the United States. Only a small number of college campuses, such as Boston University and San Diego State University, are currently featured in the Street View Gallery.

During the company-sponsored contest, RIT received nearly 30,000 votes to emerge as the winner of the University Campuses category.

Google will send to RIT a specially equipped tricycle, which tows a device the company says is reminiscent of an ice cream cart. It features nine directional cameras mounted above it and includes a GPS unit for positioning and laser range scanners. The “trike” will cruise around campus and snap photographs, providing a continuous stream of 360-degree images that will be later organized for public viewing.

Other contest finalists were Arizona State University, Michigan State University, Stanford University and Princeton University.